2003 OCTOBER NEW · 2003. 10. 2. · 2 2 THE JERSEYMAN OCTOBER 2003 WASHINGTON NAVY YARD ORDNANCE...

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A DAY IN THE HISTORY OF USS NEW JERSEY… May 5, 1969 - Long Beach, California. “Friends, dependents and relatives eagerly wait to greet the men of the Battleship New Jersey (BB-62) as the ship arrives following a tour in the Western Pacific.” (US Navy Photos) ”NEW JERSEY INTERNATIONAL” Vietnam crewmen may recall this sign that Captain Ed Snyder had painted on the helicopter pad of USS NEW JERSEY. USS NEW JERSEY had no helicopters or flight crew assigned to the ship during the Vietnam tour. October 2003 THE JERSEYMAN

Transcript of 2003 OCTOBER NEW · 2003. 10. 2. · 2 2 THE JERSEYMAN OCTOBER 2003 WASHINGTON NAVY YARD ORDNANCE...

  • A DAY IN THE HISTORY OF USS NEW JERSEY…

    May 5, 1969 - Long Beach, California.

    “Friends, dependents and relatives eagerly wait

    to greet the men of the Battleship New Jersey (BB-62) as the ship arrives following a tour in

    the Western Pacific.” (US Navy Photos)

    ”NEW JERSEY INTERNATIONAL” Vietnam crewmen may recall this sign that Captain Ed Snyder had painted on

    the helicopter pad of USS NEW JERSEY. USS NEW JERSEY had no helicopters or flight crew

    assigned to the ship during the Vietnam tour.

    October 2003

    THE JERSEYMAN

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    WASHINGTON NAVY YARD ORDNANCE DISPLAY… Japanese Battleship 18.1 inch shells: (Note ruler at the bottom of left projectile.) These were the projectile types that were carried aboard the Japanese IJN Yamato and IJN Musashi

    battleships during WW2. To compare differences between the sharp taper of the nose on Japanese shells, with the far less tapered shape of 16” shells used aboard US Navy Battleships, reference was from: “The Battleship Yamato - Anatomy of the Ship” (Pg. 18/19) by Janusz Skulski, (Copyright 1988. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland.) “PROJECTILES… 1. Armour piercing (Type 91). This weighed 1460kg (= 3,219 lbs) and was designed to enter the water short of the target, maintain its trajectory and penetrate the hull’s torpedo defence system. The projectile nose was given a hydrody-namic shape so its trajectory would not alter drastically on entry. The Japanese had been quite impressed by the damage caused by rounds falling short on their partially completed battleship “Tosa” in firing experiments.” The projectile height is described at 1980mm (= 77.95 inches.)

    Naval Gun Car The plaque shown with this huge Naval

    Gun Car provided this description: “Navy Gun Car

    14”- 50 Cal. Naval Gun ONE OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL

    RAILWAY BATTERIES DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND SHIPPED ABROAD BY

    THE BUREAU OF ORDNANCE, NAVY DEPARTMENT.

    PLACED IN OPERATION IN FRANCE AND MANNED BY NAVAL PERSONNEL UNDER

    TH4E COMMAND OF REAR ADMIRAL C.P. PLUNKETT, U.S.N.

    DESIGNS WERE STARTED DECEMBER 26, 1917

    FINISHED JANUARY 25, 1918 CONSTRUCTION COMMENCED FEB 13, 1918

    COMPLETED APRIL 26, 1918 TESTED APRIL 30, 1918

    SHIPPED ABROAD JUNE—1918 RE-ERECTED IN FRANCE JULY-AUG-1918 STARTED FOR THE BATTLE FRONT FROM

    ST. NAZAIRE, FR. ON AUGUST 17, 1918. 234 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF FIRST

    DESIGNS, THIS GUN FIRED 236-1400 POUND NAVY SHELLS AGAINST THE GERMANS.

    THE U.S. NAVAL RAILWAY BATTERIES

    TRAVELLED THE LENGTH OF FRANCE… MAXIMUM RANGE USED -

    42,500 YARDS 24.2 MILES”

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    “BB62 RESTORATION TEAM” (Formerly known as “The Brassmeisters”) If volunteers take a look inside of Turret #1, you may be sur-prised at the extent of the gleaming brightwork. This major effort to shine all brass, from the turret’s gun deck into each of the rifle load-ing areas was the hard work of the volunteers seen here. This dedicated team is usually aboard on Saturdays, and they have taken it on themselves to keep up the never ending job of see-ing that all brass is worthy of Battleship New Jersey. Turret #1 is a great example of US Navy style brightwork at it’s best. All 3 of the turret rifle loading areas also display gleaming brass thanks to Ed Hamilton and Charlie Spinetta.

    Regular Restoration Team Saturday volunteers shown above are from left to right: Bruce Frey, Charlie Spinetta, Ed Hamilton, Kurt Cheesman and seated, Nan LaCorte. Missing team members are Frank O’Keefe, Dave Ratcliffe, Sue Ratcliffe, Vera Tierno, Adam Simkins and Richard Thrash. Bright brass on US Navy ship’s is an immediate sign of great pride in their ship. Battleship New Jersey is no exception thanks to these great folks… If any brightwork throughout the ship is seen to be in need of some “BRASSO”, all hands are asked to note the area, and please put the note on the 2nd deck shop door… (formerly the old Dental Lab.) Once you leave the note, you can consider it done.

    WEDNESDAY’S TEAM... A few Wednesday restoration volunteers have taken a breather following their second 0830 morning coffee break, and agreed to a group photo. Seen here from Left to right are volunteers… Wayne Schofield, Ed Haas, Bob Whomsley, Hugo DiBona, and Harry Schafer, and shown at the rear are Jim Maher, and Jack Hoban.

    Volunteers Hugo DiBona and Jim Moore are usually found work-ing on deck tile installation duty anywhere needed throughout the ship. But that is not their only contribution. Today the forward vents need some metal work tended…

    "If there is one word that describes our form of society in America, it may be the word - Voluntary.” Lyndon Baines Johnson

    Quote of the month: “Inside every older person, is a younger person wondering

    ...What the hell happened?"

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    “HOLYSTONE…” By Master Chief Tom Helvig, USN (Ret.) - Volunteer Writer/Editor The Jerseyman. Although a few Battleship museum ships sometimes include public demonstrations of “Holystoning” even today… the battleship sailor’s art of “Holystoning” is soon destined only for the history books. For those of us that were fortunate to have had the experience each Saturday morning aboard a battleship (for me it was USS IOWA –1954), it’s a memory you probably recall with a smile. As with most things, back then it was work to complain about, now it’s a fun memory... The photos shown here of sailor’s at work, were taken aboard USS NEW JERSEY and are dated June 6, 1968. We asked Admiral Ed Snyder (Commanding Officer, USS NEW JERSEY 1968-1969) to comment about Holy-stoning aboard USS NEW JERSEY in June 1968 for The Jerseyman, and this is what he said: “Because we didn’t have a full complement of crew aboard for Vietnam, “Holystoning” as you see here was a staged event at the request of Life Magazine Photographer, Neil Leifer. As a matter of fact, to avoid damaging the deck and making extra work for the crew, I had plywood placed over the deck whenever heavy work like stowing projectiles was planned. As I remember, Neil asked if we could provide some sailors for Holystone photos to be used for the ship’s cruise book. We had no lack of volunteers so they could say they actually did holystone aboard NEW JERSEY. It was kind of comical too, because the bricks would leave the sticks and hit the sailor’s bare feet with force more than once. We also had some trouble explaining exactly how the hands and arms had to be placed to hold the sticks...” (US Navy photos)

    U. S. NAVY NEWS USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64) After 42 years of service, retirement has been announced for “America’s Flagship” USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64). The “CONNIE” is to be towed in September 2003 to the mothball fleet in Bremerton, Washington and soon to be stricken from the Naval Registry. The aircraft carrier to replace (CV-64), will be USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76). A noted coincidence, is that USS CONSTELLATION was first given the famous nickname of “America’s Flagship” by President Ronald Reagan during a Presidential visit to the ship in 1982. USS NEW YORK (LPD-21) It has been reported that thirty tons of steel debris from the World Trade Center will soon be melted down at a Louisiana foundry, and become the bow stem for USS NEW YORK. LPD-21 is to be built at the Northrop Grumman Ship Systems site outside of New Orleans, and will become the fifth ship of the San Antonio Class. STATUS OF THE NAVY (USN CHINFO PAO Website - Sept 23, 2003)

    Active Duty Personnel: 384,396 Officers: 55,373, Enlisted: 324,695, Midshipmen: 4,328 Ready Reserve: 152,464 (as of Aug 31, 2003) Reserves currently mobilized 4,372 Ships: 297 Ships Underway 153 (52% of total) Ships On Deployment: 101 (34% of total)

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    June 7, 1954 - Battleship Division Two - The only time all four USS IOWA Class battleships were photographed together…

    Ship closest to the camera is USS Iowa (BB-61). The others are (from near to far): USS Wisconsin (BB-64); USS Missouri (BB-63) and USS New Jersey (BB-62).

    Ship leading the column is USS Wisconsin (BB-64). The others are (in no particular order): USS Iowa (BB-61); USS New Jersey (BB-62) and USS Missouri (BB-63).

    (Photos of Battleship Division Two are courtesy of the Naval Historical Photo Center, and Mr. Ed. Finney)

    WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL… On Saturday, May 29, 2004, the National World War II Memorial will be dedicated in Washington, D.C. For those that served in World War II, or had family members that may have served, the National World War II Memorial offers registry to honor that service. Three registration categories are offered: World War II Vet-eran, Killed in World War II, and Civilian on the Home Front. Registry en-tries may be made without cost at the official website: www.wwiimemorial.com. Photos can also be added to memorial entries at a cost of $10. If you are not familiar with the photo upload process, and want to submit a photo with your World War II memorial entry, please send an email to [email protected] for assistance.

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    USS NORTHAMPTON (CC-1)… After our Jerseyman story in the September issue about USS Northampton (CA-26) being lost in World War 2, and her surviving 21 mem-ber band being re-assigned to USS NEW JER-SEY, The Jerseyman received the below story from the grandaughter of restoration radio crew volunteer, Robert J. Westcott, Sr. As most of us are aware, Bob Westcott, Sr., is a WW2 plankowner of USS NEW JERSEY, a consistent restoration volunteer, an active mem-ber of the ship’s Ham Club, a retired US Navy Reserve Chief Radioman, and major technical contributor to communications restoration efforts aboard Battleship New Jersey.

    “We wanted to let you know that my Grandfather’s son, my Uncle Robert J. Westcott, Jr., was only 26 when he died on October 28, 1967 in an accident not far from his ship. His ship was USS NORTHAMPTON (CC-1). Uncle Bobby was a Radioman 2nd class, and had joined the Navy in January of 1961.” With grateful thanks, the photo of USS NORTHAMPTON (CC-1) was provided by volunteer Bob Westcott in honor of his son, RM2 Robert J. Westcott, Jr., USN. Note: During the 1960’s, USS NORTHAMPTON (CC-1) was configured for use by the President as a National Emergency Command Post Afloat (NECPA), and was manned by the Navy’s best communications specialists. Clearly seen in this photo, it was at this time that USS NORTHAMPTON carried the tallest ship’s mast in the world.

    MODEL RBA-5 RECEIVER, US NAVY DEPARTMENT BUSHIPS SERIAL #14… - Saturday, August 23, 2003 Volunteer Bob Westcott, Sr., is seen here bringing aboard an antique radio receiver, now on loan to Battleship New Jersey. “This is a Model RBA-5 Receiver, US Navy Department Buships Serial #14. When I got out of the Navy, I was an RT 1/c (Radio Technician First Class,) and I was always going down to the Philadelphia Navy Yard to see what scrap equipment I could find for radio projects. I had a Chief Petty Officer friend of mine, who also hap-pened to be in charge of the Navy’s scrap material at the yard. So I remember very well getting this receiver from him as scrap, and you can see that I wrote the year I got it here on the side… it was in 1947, and yes - it still works.”

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    Disclaimer: The Jerseyman Is an independent newsletter written for and by Battleship New Jersey museum volunteers. Wherever possible, The Jerseyman requests permission, properly credits, and identifies the author of any photos or quotations used. If readers find any crediting errors, or possible copyright infringements, please let us know and corrections will be made. Thanks for your help. Master Chief Tom Helvig, USN (Ret.) - Volunteer Writer/Editor The Jerseyman

    RADIO ROOM… (Submitted by Dave and Margaret Burgess, BNJARS) “Since January 2001, Battleship New Jersey Amateur Radio Station (BNJARS) members have spent over 13,000 volunteer hours helping to make the museum a reality. The first year was the hardest as we worked in tem-peratures ranging from freezing to roasting. Restoration of the 1MC announcing system was a top priority in 2001 and it wasn't easy with all wiring harnesses cut and parts missing. However, five of our dedicated members were able to get the job done by doing a lot of reverse engineering on the system and spending tedious hours soldering hundreds of wires. Other members worked long and hard to find and replace equipment in Radio Central and get some of it working so that visitors could experience the sounds, and sights, of a working communications room. Vol-unteers from the Telephone Pioneers joined the radio group and proceeded to bring the ship's internal phone system back to life. On occasion the radio crew was able to assist Ebe Helm who almost single handedly restored the ships TV studio and SITE system. With the help of the ship's maintenance crew and outside contractors, the ship's anten-nas were replaced and put back in use. By opening day in October of 2001, we had accomplished much of what we had set out to do but the work didn't stop there. We have continued to restore and improve the communications areas of the ship. Live audio from the radio room was extended to other areas to give visitors a feel of what the ship may have sounded like underway. Thanks to visits to the Philadelphia Ship Yard inactive fleet, we have been able to find equipment that would have been used in the transmitter room of the BB62. Members work on restoring this equipment (URT-23 transmitters, CA-1100 patch panel, etc....) so that future visitors can get a glimpse of a working USN, 1991era, ship transmitter room. In addition to all our restoration work, BNJARS was authorized to establish an Amateur Radio Station (NJ2BB) onboard the ship. Since our very first contact made in May 2001, we have contacted over 10,000 operators around the world. It has been a great way to let everyone know that the Battleship New Jersey is "alive and standing-by for visitors".

    The members of the Battleship New Jersey Ama-teur Radio Station (BNJARS) seen in the photo, are proud to have been a part of the restoration of this great ship—

    it has been a labor of love for all our members. Congratulations to All Hands on the proud

    2nd Anniversary of Battleship New Jersey Museum!” Front: Ruben Kafenbaum, Doug Gehering, Ted Katz, Bob Westcott, Ed Clark, TerryThayer, Randy Martino Second Row:Sam Bennett, Al Lynch, Jean Priestley,

    Joe Cramer, Woody Woodcock, Ebe Helm, Betsy Crane, Margaret Burgess

    Back Row: Dave Webb, Lou Priestley, John Goheen, Bill Bacon,

    John Saracen, Dave Burgess, Gene Furmanski, Harry Bryant, Jon Rudolph

    Missing Ham club volunteers...

    Stan Hojnacki, Bob Jones, Pete Greene, Doug McCray, Gene Holben, Harry Carlson,

    Charlie Dietrich, Ray Schnaap, Ralph Schwank, Frank Annaloro, and

    Telephone Pioneers John Pavek, Ed Martino, Gary Katona,

    Wayne Welsh.

    Editor’s note: As we compile ship’s restoration photos for the Navy Archives, we have received

    hundreds of photos from the volunteers, and also many taken from the two great ship’s websites listed below.

    To view restoration photos (and restoration progress) from August 2000 to present,

    please visit the Ham Club website at: www.qsl.net/wa2tvs/bb62

    and, Volunteer Rich Thrash’s website at www.ussnewjersey.com

    Please remember to leave a guest log entry of your visit…

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    U. S. NAVY SHIP’S BELLS… Since posting our request for

    photos of US Navy ship’s bells, added bell photos were received

    with thanks:

    USS SALEM (CA-139) Frank Carlson

    US Naval Shipbuilding Museum Quincy, MA.

    USS SANTA FE (CL-60) John Shovlin, III

    Chairman, USS SANTA FE Ass’n Pittsburgh, PA.

    USS HISSEM (DE/DER-400) RMCS Harry Carlson, USN (Ret.)

    Pemberton Twp, NJ

    USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)

    PH3 Robert Erb, USN Captain James P. Nickols, USN

    Command Chaplain and Former USS NEW JERSEY Chaplain

    (July 89 – Feb 1992)

    ALL HANDS… On Thursday, September 12. 2003, The Battleship New Jersey Volunteer Committee approved the formation of a volunteer Honor Guard. The purpose of the guard, will be to provide a presence at funeral services when one of our shipmates passes on. We would now ask your support in organizing all ship’s volunteers that would like to participate. Specifically, we will be asking Honor Guard members to be available as a group at the funeral home, and to present to the family a cased American Flag, and certificate in honor of the service the de-ceased shipmate provided to the Battleship New Jersey. To begin the formation of an Honor Guard, we would like to call a meeting to dis-cuss: (1) The number of volunteers needed by county in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It would be ideal if at least 4 members can be present, and include those who worked the most with the deceased volunteer. (2) There are no min. or max. amount of crew members required per presentation. (3) As each person volunteers, a formal procedure guide will be provided, and we want to be as flexible as each presentation requires. We do not consider ourselves a formal Military Honor Guard. (4) Our objective is simply to honor a fallen volunteer crew member, and follow the time allotted to us by the family. We would not be required to attend at grave side ceremonies. (5) It would be asked if each participating Honor Guard member appear in a clean, pressed and appropriate uniform. A black arm band will be provided by the ship, and a Battleship New Jersey hat should be worn. Over the past few years, the Battleship New Jersey volunteers have developed into a very close unit of friends. With this program, we have the opportunity to ex-press a final appreciation for our shipmates. To discuss, or for more information, please email me at: [email protected] Thanks! Volunteer Carl A. Arzillo

    USS ANTELOPE (PG-86)

    Gene F. Van Orden Grandville, MI.

    USS ROCHESTER (CA-124) Frank Dayak

    Long Beach, CA.

    USS REGISTER (APD-92) (Story only—bell photo N/A)

    Herb Norch El Paso, TX.

    All Volunteers... “Yesterday”

    Photos wanted! The Jerseyman would like to ensure that all volunteers are

    eventually included in the “Today’s Battleship Volunteers”

    page each month.

    Your “Yesterday” photo is requested. Please leave your photos with Rolland Garber,

    or Harry Ruhle. All photos to be returned. -

    Thanks!

    Special tribute: Johnny Cash, “The Man In Black”,” and great American country star, died on September 12, 2003. What is not generally known about Johnny Cash, is that he was also one of us - a proud United States Air Force Veteran. Johnny served with the 6913th RSM (Radio Squadron Mobile – AFSS) in Bremerhaven, Germany from 1959 – 1961. As a fitting tribute, you may want to turn up your speakers and listen to the song “Ragged Old Flag,” written by Johnny Cash. It is found at: www.alighthouse.com/flag.htm

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    “FREEDOM IS NOT FREE” Early on the Sunday Morning of October 23, 1983, a terrorist drove an explosives laden truck directly into the Marine Battalion Landing Team (BLT) Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. A USS

    NEW JERSEY crewman, Chief Electronics Technician Michael Wayne Gorchinski, USN, was one of 241 servicemen that were killed in this attack as they slept. In October 2003, The Battleship New Jersey restoration volun-teers, and former USS NEW JERSEY crewmen, pause with The Jer-seyman in remembrance of those who gave the supreme sacrifice that tragic day 20 years ago this month. At the time of his death, Chief Gorchinski left his wife Judy, and 3 young children. In honor of ETC (SW) Michael Gorchinski, his USS NEW JER-SEY Chief Petty Officer shipmates commissioned the oil painting seen in this photo. The painting was formally dedicated aboard the ship on Tuesday, 3 April 1984 “as USS NEW JERSEY steamed away from Lebanon...” as was later written to Mrs. Gorchinski by Captain R.D. Milligan. The photo seen here, and the turret painting photo shown below, have been provided to the ship’s archives by Judy Gorchinski.

    Although the turret painting no longer remains, according to Judy, the maps in the bulkhead photo depicted the long 11 Month cruise of USS NEW JERSEY. The Marine Barracks Memorial Tribute can be clearly seen at the top center. Within the gold painted wreath it reads: “In memory of ETC Gorchinski and the 240 Marines and Sailors who died in service to their country 0700 Sunday morning 23 October 1983 Beirut, Lebanon” Family update: Judy Gorchinski today lives in Sacramento, California, close to her 3 children Christina, Kevin and Valerie. Christina, like her Dad, also served in the US Navy, and her service was aboard Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer USS GONZALEZ (DDG-66). She is married, and recently became a new Mom to baby daughter Clarissa. Christina’s hus-band is a Navy sonar tech and currently in Norfolk, and waiting to deploy. Kevin Gorchinski is working in Information Technology, and Valerie has recently completed studies for an associates degree and lives in the bay area. Chief Gorchinski’s Mother Pat, and Stepfather Bill live in Evansville, Indiana where Mike spent most of his youth, and Mike’s sister Penny, also lives in Indiana. Mike’s father Ben, resides in Pleasantville, New Jersey, and attended the USS NEW JERSEY Veteran’s Reunion held aboard the ship in September 2002. Ben was an army veteran, joined the US Army at age 19, and served with the 83rd Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), during World War II. “Got back to the states in Sept of 1945, and discharged from the service on Oct 3, 1945. God Bless America. I was proud to serve.”

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    BEIRUT MEMORIAL -

    “In the summer of 1982, at the request of the Lebanese government, the United States agreed to establish a U.S. Military presence in that country to serve as a peacekeeping

    force in the conflict between warring Moslem and Christian factions. On March 24, 1983, the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit, stationed at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, received

    orders to Beirut, Lebanon in support of that commitment.” (Source: Beirut Memorial brochure “They Came In Peace”)

    Of the 241 United States servicemen

    killed on October 23, 1983 in Beirut, Lebanon, eight Marines were from New Jersey:

    Sgt. Manuel A. Cox, Union City, NJ 12/4/83

    L/Cpl. William F. Burley, Linden, NJ 10/23/83 L/Cpl. George Dramis, Cape May Court House, NJ 1/3l/84

    L/Cpl. Sean F. Esler, Kendall Park, NJ 10/23/83 CWO Paul G. Innocenzi, Trenton, NJ 10/23/83

    Cpl. James J. Langon IV, Lakehurst, NJ 10/23/83 Cpl. Thomas D. Stowe, Sommerville, NJ 10/23/83 Sgt. Jeffrey D. Young, Moorestown, NJ 10/23/83

    The list of New Jersey casualties listed above, and the Camp LeJeune Beirut Memorial photo, were provided to The Jerseyman by Mrs. Judith Young, Mother of Sgt. Jeffrey D. Young, USMC. Mrs. Young

    lives in Moorestown, NJ, and is co-founder of the Beirut Connection support group for the families of Beirut. She is also active on the Board of Directors for the Beirut Veterans of America, President of the

    New Jersey Gold Star Mothers, and 2nd National Vice President of American Gold Star Mothers.

    273 names are inscribed on the walls of the Beirut Memorial.

    “THEY CAME IN PEACE”

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    Volunteer Electrician’s Mate 1/c Carl Arzillo 1956—1962

    USS SALEM (CA-139) “I enjoyed my hard hat Navy days the most...”

    TODAY’S BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS...

    Volunteer and Docent Supervisor SGM Paul Hanson US Army 1968-1990

    1st Cavalry Div. Sgt. Major - Operations and Training

    “There is a little more room to move around in USS NEW JERSEY…”

    Volunteer Aviation Electronics Tech 1/c Milton Lowe

    Fleet Air Wing 14 and VPB-204 1944 - 1946

    Volunteer Aviation Ordnance AN Mayer Falk 1950-1954 USS BOXER (CVA-21) VP-44 FASRON 102 “Jerseyman readers that served aboard carriers during the Korean War may enjoy seeing this “Pinwheel” operation photo from USS BOXER. This photo was taken when we were coming back into Pearl Harbor in April of 1953.

    To maneuver inside the tight channel, our propeller driven Douglas AD1’s, and the F4U’s were cabled down, and facing each other in line at both the bow and at the stern. When we needed a nudge, the pilots were radioed to gun their engines, and the props were used to maneuver the ship around as needed...”

    WELL DONE! “To the hundreds of Volunteers who have worked so hard to restore and display the Battleship New Jer-sey, "you have done a spectacular job!" I would like to thank each one of you for your part in the 210,000 man hours that have been given to make New Jersey the best museum ship in the world. I try to meet and greet each of you every day that you are aboard because you make New Jersey special. Our first year was phe-nomenal with 250,000 visitors, our second we fought wind, rain and a hurricane along the way, but still had a great year with encampments and group sales helping the "walk-ups.” As we complete our second year of operation on 12 October, we can all feel a true sense of accomplishment knowing that our ship can be the proud lady that she deserves to be. Once more her decks are polished and her brightwork shines. And especially thanks to you, - our crew, the patriots of today are again walking about her passageways and spaces. Well Done, and thank you for your work!”

    N J B B

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